Quantitative research is much different than qualitative research. The primary objective of quantitative research is to find out why something happens, not how. In quantitative research, everything should be quantified somehow, or expressed numerically and statistically. One of the biggest differences from qualitative research is that factors that cannot be observed can be measured. Some of the strengths include being able to compare different groups or classes, giving an explanation of causes, and allowing detailed measurements or tests to be expressed in numbers. The weaknesses include data that is only quantifiable data, it gives a very stagnant view of reality, and it asks correct questions that may appear to be close-ended, unlike open-ended questions in a qualitative study.
Quantitative research is very popular in the social science fields like psychology, sociology, and economics. This is because research in these fields can be expressed in statistical terms. The data collected is much more straight forward and factual, rather than opinionated and dynamic. Surveys are a very common method of data collection in this type of research, but the questions are very structured and the responses are pre-determined by the person administering the survey.
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